My Ballot

Assembly District 8

This district encompasses 20 communities in Atlantic, Burlington and Camden counties. Republican Assemblyman Scott Rudder is the only incumbent; he and his running mate are facing two last-minute Democratic candidates and an independent.

Technology Executive

Robert Edward Forchion Jr. (I)

Anita Lovely (D)

Economist

WINNER: Scott Rudder - Incumbent (R)

Manager-business development, Lockheed Martin

In brief, what will be your top three priorities if elected (one sentence each, please).

Should the state provide more school choice for children, including the expansion of charter schools, vouchers for private schools and enabling children to attend public schools outside of their home districts?

Would you make any changes to how schools are funded by the state, including so-called Abbott districts and wealthier suburban localities?

Should the state continue to adopt regional planning initiatives to prevent sprawl, and if so, how should preservation be funded?

Do you support Gov. Christie's energy master plan or would you seek more lofty goals for conservation and renewable energy?

Experts say New Jersey's transportation infrastructure is crumbling. How should the state fund upgrades: continued bonding or borrowing, a gas tax, toll hikes or some other specified method?

What would you do to provide relief for property taxpayers -- for example, further program cuts, additional state aid and rebates -- and should municipalities and schools be forced to do more to regionalize or share services?

What can be done to improve the public discourse here in New Jersey?

WINNER: Christopher J. Brown:
The candidate has not responded to repeated requests to answer questions.

WINNER: Christopher J. Brown:
The candidate has not responded to repeated requests to answer questions.

WINNER: Christopher J. Brown:
The candidate has not responded to repeated requests to answer questions.

WINNER: Christopher J. Brown:
The candidate has not responded to repeated requests to answer questions.

WINNER: Christopher J. Brown:
The candidate has not responded to repeated requests to answer questions.

WINNER: Christopher J. Brown:
The candidate has not responded to repeated requests to answer questions.

WINNER: Christopher J. Brown:
The candidate has not responded to repeated requests to answer questions.

WINNER: Christopher J. Brown:
The candidate has not responded to repeated requests to answer questions.

Anita Lovely:
Yes, especially in under-performing districts. I would also like to see the charter schools do what they were originally intended to do - test pilot programs and implement the successful ones in public schools. Vouchers and enabling children to attend public schools outside of their home districts allow parents to send their children to schools they deem better able to address their child's specific educational needs. We should do everything we can to insure that our children get the best education possible and be able to compete successfully in our global economy.

Anita Lovely:
I think schools should be held accountable and show progress with the funds already given to them before getting more money from the state.

Anita Lovely:
The candidate has not responded to repeated requests to answer questions.

Anita Lovely:
I support the state’s continued investment in growing the use of solar and other renewable energy sources. The state would be wise to support the improvement of electric transmission lines to reduce the percentage of lost power in transmission.

Anita Lovely:
Transportation experts suggest raising the gas tax and using public-private partnerships. We have the fourth lowest gas tax in the country. Increasing the gas tax allows a significant percentage of the revenue to be from out-of-state sources, which eases the fiscal burden on NJ residents. Also, the gas tax incentivizes drivers to use fuel efficient vehicles, which are generally lighter and easier on the roads. Other solutions would lead to increases in tolls or burdensome reporting requirements and not incentivize cleaner vehicles. Partnerships would increase tolls.

Anita Lovely:
I am for increasing the use of shared services at a county and regional level. I am also for linking municipal aid to the implementation of shared services as well as other methods of increasing efficiencies in local governance. The state has an obligation to restore aid to municipalities and school districts that have demonstrated themselves to be good stewards of public money. Property tax rebates are helpful in offsetting the high cost of property taxes, particularly in the case of seniors on fixed incomes.

Anita Lovely:
The public is tired of the political games. Rules of conduct should be implemented and enforced for all public officials.